Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-26
A Tendency Towards a Revival OF the
Briefer Neither lsarment.

WHAT HIGH SCHOOL PROFESSOR HAS NorIcED-rHE
cAIsE OF EVOLUTION FROM TRUNK HOSE TO
IRowsKRs-AKGUnENrs UsxD IN FAVOR OF KNEE
pRKKCHKs.
81 have noticed" " said the High School professor
to STAR reporter, "a tendency among boys to
wear Knickerbockerst to a more advanced age than
was the custom few years ago. We have many
boys here attired that way, and two or three even
In the third year-boys fifteen or sixteen years
old. They look well, and the garment Is most
sensible one for active boys, engaged In athletic
sports. Knee oreeche5 have the approval OF SEN
sible, practical mothers. An effort is being made
In Chicago 70 introduce knee brooches to the world
again as part OF a mans ordinary attire. Ath-
letes, as rule, wear such garments, and they
seem TO be coming into some favor for fun dress
II II becomes the fashion to wear knee brooches
for dress, Us they are already worn by many per-
sons engaged In athletic sports, il seems TO me
that it will not be long before they will be in
vogue for everyday purposes.
ut Is difficult 10 conceive continued the pro-
lessor, "what were the considerations that led to
the general adoption OF frowsers In place OF knee
DreecheS about the beginning OF this century. OF
course the whims OF fashion are inexplicable and
can seldom be accounted for on the ground OF
utility or convenience. We seem 10 be Indebted
for the modern panraloOns TO the revolution in
France, and 10 the deformed knee OF the prince
regent IN England. To hide defect in his knee
the prince regent had his breeches made 10 ex-
tend below the knee and, as he set the fashion, all
the sweils OF the day at once had their breecheS
wrought by the fernent OF the revolution mas ne
extension Of the tight breeches down abou: the
middle OF the calf, where they were met by half
top bootA II was only step from this point to
the trowsers OF full length.
EVOLUTION OF THE TRowsRRS.
'Trowsers' he went on 10 say shave been pro-
duced by gradual steps OF evolution from the hose
or tight garments worn in the middle ages under
armor. The term hose was applied TO the garment
which was all In one piece from the foot TO the hip
Later, In the day OF the Tudors, what was known
a trunk hose appeared which, suppose, was the
f1rSt step towards the modern trowSers. The COW
er1ng Of the lower limb was then divided into two
known rs the stocking. The trunk hose came
down only a little way on the thigh and WAS
pulled and slashed. Towards the end OF the 18th
century there was change in nomenclature, the
trunk hose being called breecneS, and the term
hose becoming SYNONYMOUS With stockings. The
balloon breeches, so named from their groteSque
puf1ng, then came into vogue. Tie breaches
grew bigger and were slashed more under James /
and were extended down 10 The knees, where they
looms collapsed and IL became the fashion To wear
loose breeches TO the knee. No change
was made In the cut under the Roundhead rule.
though there was leaS ornament, and SOber colors
took the place o. nchly-hued fabrics The dress
revival under Charles ii brought into vogue
bfeeches VI expanded width, with tight. nicely 1T
ting stockings. With William Ill the era Of tight
knee breeches began, and suca breeches have
never gone entirely out OF vogue, they are still
used In the military service In some countries,
form part OF the regulation court costume and
as you Know, are approved as the dress for ath-
leteA There were various minor changes In the
eighteenth century. Sometimes it was the fashion
70 buckle the breech6s above the knee and then
again the breeches would extend below the Knee
aod there button or buckle over the stocking It
Is singular that the great social movement in
France should have left men Tree In political
action, but much restricted in the use Of their
Limbs
KNEE BRxEcHEs IN WASHINGTON.
The reluctance a man feels in wearing any,
thing In public that will make him appear odd OF
course Is an obstacle In the way OF the restoration
of the knee breeches 10 general use. such move
ment would have 10 be started by few men OF cour
age and Independence. In this city, however one
could walk the streets in such attire without atrrac
ting much notice There OF bicycle riders
here who have adopted the knee breeches as most
convenient for bicycle riding, and many wear them
all day long, at their o1ceo and places OF business
People have become so much accustomed 10 the
sight that little or no notice Is taken Of man In
such rig. There many things TO be said In
favor OF knee bfeeches, from an economic as well
~ an esthetsc point Of view. Trousers are frayed
az the heel and bagged at the knee by protraeted
likes 70 appear well dressed. long before they can
said 20 be really worn out The knee breeches
are not subject TO such injuries; IN fact, they
may be worn as long as the cloth VIII hold To-
gether IL Is urged as an objection 10 knee
bseeches that the legs Of large part Of the
present generation OF men are not slightly enough
Tor exposure. The unwfllngneSS OF men doubtful
about the appearance OF their lower limbs TO don
This short garment might retard for a while any
movement towards the restoration OF the Knee
breeehes, but could not, think ultimately defeat
Il sp1ndie-shanked gentlemen could have recourse
70 padding, and doubtless would take full advan-
tage or the taiors art 70 make up for deficiencies
q nature